KUCHING: Crocodiles in Sarawak are classified as protected species by law, but in the early days they were viewed as a fair game for destruction.
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) general manager Oswald Braken Tisen revealed that during the time of the White Rajahs from mid-1800s to mid-1900s, crocodiles were perceived as vermin.
In an exclusive interview with New Sarawak Tribune, he explained that this was brought about by the perception of crocodiles as highly dangerous creatures.
“The policy at that time was to destroy these animals. If an individual collected and destroyed one crocodile egg and provided evidence, they would receive five cents,” he said, adding that this was no small value in those days.
He hazarded a guess that this could be about RM50 in today’s currency, taking into account for inflation and conversion.
“If an individual were to kill a crocodile, they would be paid $5 per foot of the head length,” he continued. The bounties then spurred the killing of crocodiles.
During the Japanese Occupation in Sarawak, people survived on anything they could find — this included crocodiles as well, Oswald said.
The end of World War II saw the rise of an international trend for products harvested from wildlife such as leather and fur in the fashion industry.
“That was when people began harvesting crocodiles all over the world, including Borneo, for their skin,” he stated.
By the 1970s, the global population of the crocodile was experiencing a drastic decrease with the species even being wiped out in a few countries.
“Way back in 1985, we conducted our first baseline study on crocodiles in Sarawak. We found that there was only one crocodile per 20km of the river,” Oswald said, emphasising that this was an alarmingly low figure.
By then, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) had made its official entrance in 1975 as a multilateral treaty to protect endangered species.
“Cites decided that certain species would not be allowed to be traded. Crocodiles in numerous regions including Borneo came under Appendix 1, whereby no international trade is permitted at all,” Oswald disclosed.
In the 1990s, the Sarawak government had commenced efforts to protect crocodiles.
“Due to its protected status and campaigns by conservationists like ourselves, the crocodile population started to increase again,” said the SFC general manager.
Additionally, by this time fewer people were using the rivers as their main transport channel as more roads have been developed in remote areas.
Oswald estimated that the crocodile population in the state to be about 20,000 these days.
Major rivers for crocodile activities are Sungai Bako, Sungai Samarahan and Batang Lupar where SFC’s surveys have seen their numbers increase from three to six crocodiles per km of the river as compared to the aforementioned rate of one per 20km recorded in 1985.
The rising number meant that Malaysia’s crocodiles, though still protected, now fall under Appendix 2 of Cites whereby controlled harvest is permitted.
“We are now seeing a developing population moving towards recovery,” Oswald remarked hopefully, adding that much of the population consists of hatchlings (babies) and yearlings (around one year old).
